PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of body mass index (BMI) on thermoregulation in obese patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic abdominal surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic abdominal surgery with no pre-medication were included in the study. The patients were classified into 4 groups according to BMI <24.9, 25-39.9, 40-49.9, and >50. Anesthesia was provided with routine techniques. Tympanic and peripheral temperatures were recorded every 5 minutes starting with the induction of anesthesia...

PURPOSE: In this study we report early-term results of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with mesh hiatoplasty that we perform to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 68 patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with mesh hiatoplasty at our clinic. Thirty-six (53%) patients were male and 32 (47%) were female. The mean age of the study population was 46.1 (25-72) years. All patients underwent endoscopy, esophagus pH metry and manometry before the operation...

OBJECTIVE: We modified the fenestration approach for arytenoid adduction to make it easier to perform the surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of our modifications, which included (1) use of an Alexis wound retractor (Applied Medical) to secure the surgical field through a small incision, and (2) use of a 12-mm, 1/2 R, insert-molded taper needle with 3-0 nylon suture to prevent damage to the arytenoid cartilage. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective non-randomized observational cross-sectional study...

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of perioperational management of gynecological cancer patients with severe internal medical complications. Methods: We collected 37 cases of gynecological cancer patients with severe internal medical complications who were hospitalized in Peking University First Hospital from Jan. 2010 to Nov. 2014. All of the cases were planned to move to ICU right after operation based on the preoperational assessment of anesthetist and physician. The median age was 69.4 years, and 25 cases (68%,25/37) of them were over 70 years old...

Internal globus pallidus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment modality of medically refractory dystonia. However, there have been few studies regarding the safety issue of pregnancy and childbirth related with DBS. This report describes a female patient who was pregnant and delivered a baby after GPi DBS surgery. A 33-year-old female patient with acquired generalized dystonia underwent bilateral GPi DBS implantation. She obtained considerable improvement in both movement and disability after DBS implantation...

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the antegrade transoral and the retrograde transabdominal approaches for fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement. METHODS: Following institutional review board approval, all G-tubes at two academic hospitals (January 2014 to May 2015) were reviewed retrospectively. Retrograde approach was used at Hospital 1 and both antegrade and retrograde approaches were used at Hospital 2. Chart review determined type of anesthesia used during placement, dose of radiation used, fluoroscopy time, procedure time, medical history, and complications...

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction has a positive impact on clinical care. Different strategies, such as questionnaires, have been developed to evaluate and improve patient satisfaction. A validated pediatric anesthesia questionnaire previously showed the importance of perioperative care built upon a relationship of trust between healthcare providers and children and parents, and a comfortable environment in which satisfactory answers are provided. However, the questionnaire was validated in English, and no research exists on the use of satisfaction questionnaires in Spanish...

OBJECTIVE: A new extended-release bupivacaine suspension bupivacaine (ERSB) delivers 3 days of local anesthetic and has been shown to reduce pain and narcotic usage in some patient groups but this issue is largely unstudied in urologic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a single-surgeon retrospective chart review of the patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation. Pain scores and standardized morphine equivalent (ME) dose data were collected during 23 hour- observation period...

BACKGROUND: The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) described the lack of access to safe, affordable, timely surgical, and anesthesia care. It proposed a series of 6 indicators to measure surgery, accompanied by time-bound targets and a template for national surgical planning. To date, no sub-Saharan African country has completed and published a nationwide evaluation of its surgical system within this framework. METHOD: Mercy Ships, in partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Madagascar Ministry of Health, collected data on the 6 indicators from 22 referral hospitals in 16 out of 22 regions of Madagascar...

Importance: As the US population ages, the number of operations performed on elderly patients will likely increase. Frailty predicts postoperative mortality and morbidity more than age alone, thus presenting opportunities to identify the highest-risk surgical patients and improve their outcomes. Objective: To examine the effect of the Frailty Screening Initiative (FSI) on mortality and complications by comparing the surgical outcomes of a cohort of surgical patients treated before and after implementation of the FSI...

BACKGROUND: Two essentially identical, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III studies evaluated the efficacy of intravenous amisulpride, a dopamine D2/D3 antagonist, in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adult surgical patients. METHODS: Adult inpatients undergoing elective surgery during general anesthesia and having at least two of the four Apfel risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting were enrolled at 9 U...

We report a rare case of an infant with both an aneurysmal dilation of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and bilateral congenital iris sphincter agenesis. Her mydriasis without pupillary light reflex was first noted after a massive intraoperative bleeding episode during the PDA ligation. The assumption that the mydriasis was a sign of cerebral ischemia led to additional examinations and intensive medical therapies that in retrospect were unnecessary. This is the first reported case of combined aneurysmal dilation of a PDA and congenital iris sphincter agenesis in the anesthesia literature...

AIMS: Clinical trials have shown that transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis compares favorably to surgical replacement in high-risk patients and is superior to medical therapy in those at prohibitive risk. There is uncertainty however on patterns and trends in transcatheter aortic valve implantation, especially focusing on Italy. METHODS: The RISPEVA study is a prospective Italian registry including 21 institutions. Patients have been enrolled since late 2012, and data collection includes several baseline, procedural, in-hospital, and follow-up details...

BACKGROUND: The 'flipped classroom' instructional strategy has gained much momentum in educational discourse, yet no single educational offering exists in postgraduate medical education (PME) to systematically replace the lecture element of didactic sessions. This article describes the design and implementation of Clinical Anesthesia Fundamentals, the first known textbook in PME addressing this gap in resources through the integration of full-length interactive multimedia-enhanced video lectures...

Childhood burns are a profoundly traumatic and painful experience. Despite recognition of the prevalence of burn injuries in children and the severity of the associated pain, burn pain remains undertreated. At the same time, more evidence is emerging to suggest that undertreated pain has serious long-term medical and psychiatric consequences, many of which can be ameliorated with improved pain control. Pain in burn patients is, however, notoriously difficult to treat, perhaps because there is a chronic pain aspect underlying the acute pain that accompanies wound care and procedures...

Importance: Though it has been a common practice to use sharp needles to administer local anesthesia for upper blepharoplasty, the evidence for their benefit is lacking. Objective: To evaluate whether there is any benefit of using blunt-needle injection for local anesthesia when performing upper blepharoplasty to reduce postoperative bruise, hematoma, and pain. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial of 44 patients who underwent bilateral upper blepharoplasty in an academic medical setting were randomized to receive local anesthesia injections (lidocaine, 2%; 27-gauge needle) with a blunt needle in one eyelid and a sharp needle in the other eyelid...

This article updates current knowledge on epidemiology, risk factors, triggers, and management of anaphylaxis in patients with mastocytosis. Hyperactive mast cells and higher number of effector mast cells are speculated to facilitate anaphylaxis in this condition. In children, increased risk is limited to those with extensive skin involvement and high tryptase. In adults, manifestations of anaphylaxis are severe with high frequency of cardiovascular symptoms. Hymenoptera stings are the most common triggers for these reactions; however, idiopathic anaphylaxis and reactions to food or drugs occur...

BACKGROUND: With the increasing popularity of neuraxial anesthesia, there has been a decline in the use of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery. We sought to examine the incidence, outcome and characteristics associated with a failed airway in patients undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia. METHODS: A retrospective review of airway management in women undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia over an eight-year period from 2006-2013 at an academic medical center was conducted...